Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-27
HE LASSoED A HUGE LION.
A Cowboys Terrible Ride With a
Screaming Panther.

Last summer, while in Wyoming, l
had n decidedly startling adventure" re-
marked young man the other day in the
presence of San Francisco Cali repor-
ter. And subsequently, upon being ques-
toned by the latter, he told the following
remarkable but well-authenticated tale:
l was in the employ of cattle COM
pany-in short "a cowboy'-and besides
a natural love of adventure, which | had
gratitied for several years, had, no doubt,
lmbibed some of that spirit of utter reck-
lessness which characterizes the class of
which was, tor the time being, men,
ber. Early one bright morning my en-
ployer sent me out to look for some
horses which had strayed, he thought,
somewhere in the vicinity of Lance creek
(about 200 miles north of Cheyenne), only
a few miles from where we were then
camped
Mounted on my stout little broncho, or
Cow pony" | soon reached the creek
and rode slowly along It's banks, keeping
sharp lookout for the missing animals:
The banks of the creek were fringed
with cottonwood and poplar trees, inter-
mingled with clumps of osiers and a
dense underground, but on either side
the country was open but hilly. Expe-
rience had taught me to be suspicious of
any tree or bush in that section large
enough to ambush human being; for,
w oly IOlulIlR VI llC WllllC
Sioux and Cheyenne Indians from the
Pine Ridge agency were frequently met
with, and, though professedlY at peace,
were not to be trusted. Consequently, as
l rode along, from time to time peered
anXiously IN among the trees and under
brush.
l had followed the course of the creek
several miles when suddenly my pony
snorted and jumped 10 one side, almost
unseating me. Perhaps ten PAGES in
front of me, crouched as if ready to
spring, were three large mountain lions.
l had always had great desire to meet
one OF these creatures IN his native
wilds; but this was Il tritie too much of
good thing to suit me. Without a Sec
ond's thought, however, whipped out
my Colts reyolver-the only weapon /
had-and fired at the group. At the re-
port of my. pistol two of them bounded
Off through the underbrush and were
soon out of sight, and the other, uttering
| a shrill scream. writhed for n second on
the ground and then attempted 10 follow
his companions, limping badly.
lures had taken flight and without reflec-
ting upon the possible consequences
put spur to my pony and dashed after
the wounded lion. Moving so rapidly l
knew it would be impossible to shoot
with accuracy, and there was great dan
ger OF the lion turning upon me i ap;
preached too near suddenly It asned
him as have heard of gauchos dong on
the pampas?
Attached to my saddle was my braided
rawhide lasso about forty feet in length,
in the use of which had, as every cow
boy must. become quite proficient. One
end of IL was firmly attached TO the POM
mel of my saddle, and the remainder of
IN aarafnllu nnilad tied IN tba
front of the saddle by means Of a couple
of rawhide strings or thongs. Hastily
unfastening the latter-without check
ing my pony which was evidently much
excited, and inclined TO sheer away from
the lion-I prepared for the threw.
had used my lass9 so .luch frequently
dong little else but lasso or rope" cat
work of moment. Carefully measuring
the distance with my eye, whIrled the
lasso several times around my head and
at what seemed the proper moment let
fly. The instant it left my hand my
pony, as he had been trained, stopped
and braced back, almost upon his
launches. My calculations had been
correct
saw the rope settle around the lions
neck and the next instant when he
reached the end of it, and tightening, it
threw him on his back, he uttered the
most appalling scream IT was ever my lot
TO hear. The instant the rope became
taut-you may be sure l did not waste
any time-I wheeled my pony in the OPP
posite direction; dug my spurs into his
side, and darted away, dragging the lion
after me. That, am sure, was the most
exciting moment Of my life. i did not
stop to look back. simply dug the
spurs into my pony's flanks, knowing If
Irelaxed my speed if for instant, the
lion might spring upon me. Even as it
was realized that at any moment l
might feel the creatures sharp claws in
my back; and the particular manner in
which a mountain lion is said to kill (by
drawing back the head of its victim with
one paw until the neck is broken) hap
pened at this moment to occur to me. Ii
was not, strictly speaking, a cheering
reflection.
At the commencement of the mad gal
lop when on several occasions the lasso
slackened. owing TO the huge bounds the
creature took 1 shuddered and crOuchei